Joe Girardi has been a success in the high-pressure realm of New York Yankees baseball. And yet, failure to win the World Series year after year is the only measure for a man in his position.

It's under these circumstances Girardi enters meetings with GM Brian Cashman, who seems intent on bringing back his manager. Girardi would like to get on with his professional life and wants a quick decision on whether he will remain with the Yankees.

There are nagging reports the Chicago Cubs, the most desperate franchise in professional sports, want to make Girardi their manager. Sources tell the New York Daily News that Cashman won't give the Cubs permission to talk to Girardi while the GM and manager are engaged in talks.

This tug of war between the franchises couldn't be more interesting.

"He knows we'd like to have him stay and continue as manager of the New York Yankees as we move forward," Cashman said Tuesday. "I feel we hired a good one. He's been a world champion player for us. He's been a coach, a broadcaster and obviously a world champion manager. So we've benefited from having him and we'd like to do that going forward, but we'll have to speak with him and see how it plays out."

Yes, the Cubs crave him. Girardi grew up in Illinois, went to Northwestern and played for the Cubs. But first, they must get permission to speak to him.

For his part, Girardi is willing to listen to the Cubs' offer if he gets to that point. Whether that's part of a negotiating ploy can be asked. But there are good reasons for him to have serious interest.

With Girardi's contract set to expire at the end of October, the tug of home plays out against the lure of the spotlight in New York. And then there's this:

Does Girardi leave behind the potential for success in Yankee Stadium for the opportunity to build from the ground floor (or is it the sub-basement?) at Wrigley Field?

Theo Epstein, president of the Cubs and a man whose reign as rebuilder is under no shortage of pressure, must find a man who can turn a ragged collection sprinkled with rising talent into a team of the future. Dale Sveum proved not to that guy and was fired after a 66-96 season that extended the Cubs' history of mediocrity. Only the Miami Marlins finished with a worse record in the National League.

If not Girardi, who? And do other candidates really matter?

Not yet, anyway; not until the Cubs learn for certain their pursuit of Girardi is done.

Cashman wouldn't say whether he would give the Cubs permission to speak with the manager.

"I think he likes it here," Cashman said. "We're going to give him a real good reason to stay, and he's earned that through his six years with us so far."

There are questions about the Yankees' future as well, with the retirements of closer Mariano Rivera and starter Andy Pettitte. Derek Jeter's career is winding down. Second baseman Robinson Cano is a free agent with a massive contract demand (10 years, $330 million-plus).

Cashman is formulating his offseason plan.

"We'd love to have [Cano] back," Cashman said. "He's been a great Yankee. I think if he stays he has a legitimate chance to experience what you just saw for instance a little bit from Mariano, where maybe he has a chance to be the first Dominican-born player to be in Monument Park."

Cashman also said it's unclear whether the Yankees will be able to get under next year's $189 million luxury tax threshold, which includes about $177 million for player salaries.

That's another obstacle in retaining Girardi, one the Cubs apparently believe will give them an opportunity.